Philzuid

The Russian master of romance, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed breathtakingly beautiful music that demands everything from its performers. He completed his timeless Violin Concerto in just two weeks. The concerto places great demands on the soloist, but beauty awaits as a reward. Tchaikovsky entices the violinist to dive ever deeper into emotion, without lapsing into superficial virtuosity. In this three-movement masterpiece, he effortlessly shifts from one emotional storm to another—ranging from heroic drama to an intimate love letter to life itself. One of the Netherlands’ most esteemed violinists, Simone Lamsma, knows this stunning concerto inside and out. “A revelation,” judged Trouw about her performance. Philzuid eagerly challenges Lamsma to give Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto new wings.

Imaginative orchestral fantasies are also a favorite of French composer Paul Dukas, best known for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Philzuid champions his rarely performed Symphony in C. In this grand symphony, perfectionist Dukas pays a graceful tribute to his personal heroes, such as Beethoven and Franck. On a vast sonic canvas, Dukas paints with rich tonal colors and captivating melodies. Despite its abstract three-movement structure, Dukas proves to be a true storyteller, sending every listener on a journey of discovery. In the moving Andante, one can already hear melodic hints of his later masterpiece, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

On the podium stands French conductor Ludovic Morlot, a true magician of orchestral sound. As an added surprise, Morlot presents an orchestral gem by the lesser-known French composer Augusta Holmès. In the late nineteenth century, she composed ambitious orchestral works infused with a deep love for her homeland. Liszt and Franck were admirers of her music. La nuit et l’amour is a brief yet stirring ode to La Douce France.

Programma

Augusta Holmès – La nuit et l’amour
Tsjaikovski – Vioolconcert
Dukas – Symfonie in C